Combination flashlight and signaling device



April 17, 1951 3, Q, ss 2,549,103

COMBINATION FLASHLIGHT AND SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Nov. 9, 1949 FIG. I. FIG. IE.

Patented Apr. 17, 1951 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIVIBINATION FLASHLIGHT AND SIGNALING DEVICE This invention relates to a combination flashlight and signalling device for various uses such as trafiic directing, signalling at airports, ushering in theaters, and for use on boats.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple and economical combination flashlight and signalling means, light in weight, which has a high rose or red brilliancy so that it is visible at distances up to and exceeding 5000 feet when used for signal purposes and which casts a beam approximately 300 feet at the same time. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination flashlight and signalling means which can withstand stresses placed thereon and which will not break or be rendered otherwise inoperative by inadvertently hitting objects while signalling.

Another object is to provide a combination flashlight and traii'ic signalling means which can also be used by police as a club.

A further object is to provide an easily disassembled combination flashlight and traffic signalling means which will fit in the glove compartment of an automobile or other small storage space when not in use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a combination flashlight and signalling means which utilizes all the available light coming from the reflector of the flashlight without blocking oif any portion thereof.

The present invention comprises a slotted or grooved column secured to a base which can be mounted on an ordinary flashlight.

This invention also consists in the parts and arrangements and in the combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings, which form part of the specification and wherein like numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a full size vertical view of my new signalling means mounted on an ordinary flashlight shown partly in cross-section,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the signalling means shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the column taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 5- 5 in Fig. 3.

An ordinary flashlight l consists of a case 2 with a switch 3 thereon, battery 4 in said case 2, a socket 5, said socket 5 having a light bulb 5 Claims. (Cl. 177325) 6 therein, a reflector 1, and a threaded collar 8 on said case.

The signalling device comprises a rod or column 9 mounted on a base portion 10 which is secured to the flashlight I.

The column 9 is made from a crystal clear acrylic polymer plastic, such as Plexiglas, of substantially square cross-section. The base portion [0 is made from the same material and has a circular cross-section.

While the column 9 and base portion I0 could be made from a single piece of material, it is easier and more economical to make each part separately and secure them together by an adhesive, preferably a methylene dichloride such as that sold under the trademark Lupex.

The column 9 has longitudinal, unpolished slots or grooves l i having sides 12 and dished or undulated bottoms l3 which slope inwardly toward the center of the column at the top surface M of said column 9. The outer surfaces [5 between said grooves H and the top surface I 4 are highly polished. The grooves H are so positioned that the grooves II on one wall of the column 9 fall opposite to an outer surface l5 on the opposite wall of said column 9. The sides [2 and undulated bottoms I3 of said grooves H are not polished.

The polished base portion ll], made from a blank having a circular cross-section, is thicker than the ordinary flashlight lens in order to be able to withstand the stresses place-d thereon by the weight of said column 9 and leverage placed on said column 9. The base portion [0 has a peripheral or annular channel l6 which cooperates with the threaded collar 8 on the flashlight I. The column 9 is secured to the center of said base portion Ml leaving polished fiat lens portions I1 surrounding the intersection of the column 9 with the base section.

The sides I2 and bottoms l3 of the grooves H are dyed, preferably light rose or red, by a transparent dye comprising acetone and 40% water. Light rose is ideal for all purposes and produces a brilliant signalling device when viewed from the side. of course, the color which the column 9 is dyed may vary according to its use; for example, green may be used in indoor theaters.

A column 9 and a base portion I 0 exactly as shown in the figures is preferable for use as a signalling device. The column 9 has two grooves II on each of the four sides, said grooves ll staggered so that a groove 1 I on one side is opposite to an outer surface l5 on the opposite 3 side. The grooves II are preferably about /8 inch wide with an outer surface l5 of about .2 inch therebetween. The outer edge of one of said grooves II is preferably about is? of an inch from a corner of said column 9. The grooves H are flush or nearly flush with the outer surface 15 near the base portion [0 and slope inwardly to a depth of about .2 inch at the top surface M. The column 9 may-be made in various "sizes from 4 to 8 inches in length but'is preferably about 7 inches long with the groove dimensions men tioned above. The width of each side of the column 9 is about the diameter ofthe base portion I 0.

By using the above length of column,- andslope tothe bottom of the grooves, a better brilliance and a more uniform brillianceare attained.

deeper slope for this length will weaken-the clear beam passing through the column and a smaller slope will produce only "a dull glow in the column rendering it less eflicient'as a signallingmeans.

. One of the factors which gives't'his' column a better brilliance is that none of the available light coming from the reflectoris blocked out,

be used. For example, when intended for use at airports a redbaseportion |0,red"grooves II, *a clear 'center'in'said red base portion 56 under the'column ll, and 'a clear top surface I are usedto secure a Wand or column 9 which is visible for about 5000 feet and a red or pink beam which travels about 300 feet. For use in directing" traffic, a clear base portion l0, red grooves H, a red center in said clear base portion 10 under the column -9,anjd a clear top surface ['4 are used to secure a wandor column 9 which is visible for about 5000 feet and 'a Whitebeam which travels about 300 feet.

-What I claim is:

1. A combination flashlight and signalling means comprising a circular transparentbase portion and a solid partially transparent column mounted on said base portion, said column being of substantially squarecross-section and having unpolished longitudinal grooves therein'with polished outer surfaces therebetween, said grooves having bottoms which slope inwardly toward the center of the colurnn at thetop surface thereof. 2. A combination flashlight "and signalling means comprising a circulartransparent partially colored base portion and a solid partially trans'parent'column mounted on said base portion, said column'being of substantially square cross-section and having unpolished longitudinal colored grooves therein with polished outer surfaces therebetween,' said grooves having undulated bottoms which slope inwardly toward the center of the column at the top surface thereof and positioned so that grooves on one side of said column are opposite to a polished surface on the opposite side of said column.

' 3 A combination flashlight and signalling fiineans adaptedlto be secured to anf ordinary flashli'ghtf'saidmeans comprisiriga circular transparent base portion mounted in said flashlight and a solid partially transparent column mounted on said base-portion, said column being of substan- -tially'square cross-section and having unpolished longitudinal grooves therein with polished outer surfaces therebetween, said grooves having botto'ms'whichsl'ope 'inwardly toward the center of toms which slope inwardly toward the'center of the column at the top'surfa'cethereof and' positioned so that grooves on one side of said column are opposite to a polished surface on theopp'osite side of said column. I

5. A signalling means adapted to be secured to a source of light, said signalling 'm'eans coin prising a circular transparent base portion adapted to transmit therethrough'the lightreceived from'said light source, and asoli'd polished partially transparent column of smaller cross-sectional area than said base portion having the property of transmitting light in an aizial direction by internal're'fiection, said coIumn having unpolished longitudinal grooves thereinwhi ch allow some of the light passing through the interior of said column to escape therethrough.

' GILBERT OJKRAUSS.

"REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file ofthis pat-ent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name a Date 2,171,304 Geraldin Augf29l1939 2,179,777 Davis Nov. 14, 1939 2,362,131 Haggart Nov. 7, 1944 2,434,741 Hefner et al. Jan."2 0,.l948 

